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Story of the KellyGang - the Royal Commission evidence
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== The Royal Commission evidence for 3/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 3/5/1881|day 14]])
'''Inspector [[Insp Wliiam Montfort|Montfort]] giving evidence'''
<span id="rc3204">[[#rc3204|3204]]</span> The inspecting superintendent, at the time of the first application for its abolishment, I believe to have been Mr. Bookey?— I think so.
<span id="rc3205">[[#rc3205|3205]]</span> He refused to have it abolished. Mr. Nicolson said it was without his own knowledge and without his consent—were you aware it was against the opinions of the really responsible officer who understood it?— I know nothing about Mr. Bookey, but I know Mr. Nicolson was in charge of the city at the time, and he called upon me; he was so much opposed to its abolition, that he pursued the extraordinary course of calling upon me to report upon Mr. Barclay's recommendation, which was then about a week after my transfer from North-Eastern Victoria.
<span id="rc3206">[[#rc3206|3206]]</span> Being the superintendent's clerk, and therefore cognizant of every correspondence that went through, is it your opinion that the abolition of those stations was the cause of those criminals you speak of getting ahead and out of the control of the police?— Not altogether. In addition to that there are various causes—undoubtedly it did affect it to a very great extent.
<span id="rc3207">[[#rc3207|3207]]</span> You know the [[Greta|Greta]] station?— Yes.
3208 Under whose charge was it?— When I was stationed at Wangaratta, Senior-Constable [[Hall|Hall]].
3209 Was he specially selected?— Yes, by the officers immediately over me, Mr. Nicolson and Mr. Hare.
3210 Are you aware that he kept the criminal classes completely, as far as possible, under control?— As far as possible, while he was there.
<span id="rc3211">[[#rc3211|3211]]</span> Under what circumstances did he leave?— He got grievously assaulted there by [[Patrick Quinn|Pat Quin]].
<span id="rc3212">[[#rc3212|3212]]</span> What relation to Kelly is he?— Pat Quin was a cousin to Jimmy Quin, and Jimmy Quin is Kelly's uncle, and Pat Quin is married to Jimmy Quin's sister.
<span id="rc3213">[[#rc3213|3213]]</span> Was there a conviction for Hall's assault?— Pat Quin got three years.
<span id="rc3214">[[#rc3214|3214]]</span> Why was Hall removed?— I think at his own request.
3215 Why?— His wife was in a bad state of health—he got married, and his wife got into a very bad state of health, and I think that is why he made the application—I think so, I am not sure.
<span id="rc3216">[[#rc3216|3216]]</span> Who was sent there after Hall by Mr. Barclay?— I am speaking now altogether from memory and without the aid of the books—that is why I wanted to give my evidence at Benalla—I believe a constable called Montgomery.
<span id="rc3217">[[#rc3217|3217]]</span> Had he any experience of these criminal classes?— None whatever, he came from the Portland district.
3218 Was that considered an unwise step by the officers?— I looked upon it as extremely so.
3219 Is a special knowledge of those criminals indispensable to keep them under?— Yes.
3220 And a knowledge of the country?— Yes.
<span id="rc3221">[[#rc3221|3221]]</span> Did Montgomery have a knowledge of the country?— No. I got him removed. It was my duty to inspect the Greta station, and after he was placed in charge of it, on the first occasion of my inspecting it, I noticed his horse was very fat, and I knew his horse, and I was surprised that this horse should get so very fat.
<span id="rc3222">[[#rc3222|3222]]</span> What time was that?— The latter end of 1871. It attracted my attention, and the next time I went to the station I determined I would overhaul the occurrence-book, because I found him there when I went, and then the next time I found him there in the barracks, not on duty, and he appeared as if he had not been mounted, and I know there is such a thing as doing duty by the occurrence-book, and I questioned him. I saw he had entered “Bush patrol” in his book. That means riding in the bush for a certain number of hours, a certain number of miles, without any terminus being stated.
<span id="rc3223">[[#rc3223|3223]]</span> Is it generally undertaken for special duty or for the exercise of the horse?— No; patrolling the district to see what he could see, to get a knowledge of the country.
<span id="rc3224">[[#rc3224|3224]]</span> What knowledge of the country had he?— Absolutely none, for I asked him about [[Kilfera|Mason's station]], and he did not know about it. That is on the Fifteen-mile Creek.
3225 Would not that be the direct road where those lawless men would go?— Yes, and of course he should know every inch of it.
3226 Was [[Greta|Montgomery]] removed?— Yes.
<span id="rc3227">[[#rc3227|3227]]</span> Why?— On my report. I reported him to Superintendent Barclay for this, and he removed him to [[Bright|Bright]] I think.
<span id="rc3228">[[#rc3228|3228]]</span> Who went there then?— I think it was a mounted constable named [[SConst Flood|Flood]] that went there after him.....
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[[Royal Commission report day 14 page 9|previous page]] / [[Royal Commission report day 14 page 11|next page]]
== The Royal Commission evidence for 3/5/1881 ==
''''''
=== full text ===
(see also introduction to [[Royal Commission report 3/5/1881|day 14]])
'''Inspector [[Insp Wliiam Montfort|Montfort]] giving evidence'''
<span id="rc3204">[[#rc3204|3204]]</span> The inspecting superintendent, at the time of the first application for its abolishment, I believe to have been Mr. Bookey?— I think so.
<span id="rc3205">[[#rc3205|3205]]</span> He refused to have it abolished. Mr. Nicolson said it was without his own knowledge and without his consent—were you aware it was against the opinions of the really responsible officer who understood it?— I know nothing about Mr. Bookey, but I know Mr. Nicolson was in charge of the city at the time, and he called upon me; he was so much opposed to its abolition, that he pursued the extraordinary course of calling upon me to report upon Mr. Barclay's recommendation, which was then about a week after my transfer from North-Eastern Victoria.
<span id="rc3206">[[#rc3206|3206]]</span> Being the superintendent's clerk, and therefore cognizant of every correspondence that went through, is it your opinion that the abolition of those stations was the cause of those criminals you speak of getting ahead and out of the control of the police?— Not altogether. In addition to that there are various causes—undoubtedly it did affect it to a very great extent.
<span id="rc3207">[[#rc3207|3207]]</span> You know the [[Greta|Greta]] station?— Yes.
3208 Under whose charge was it?— When I was stationed at Wangaratta, Senior-Constable [[Hall|Hall]].
3209 Was he specially selected?— Yes, by the officers immediately over me, Mr. Nicolson and Mr. Hare.
3210 Are you aware that he kept the criminal classes completely, as far as possible, under control?— As far as possible, while he was there.
<span id="rc3211">[[#rc3211|3211]]</span> Under what circumstances did he leave?— He got grievously assaulted there by [[Patrick Quinn|Pat Quin]].
<span id="rc3212">[[#rc3212|3212]]</span> What relation to Kelly is he?— Pat Quin was a cousin to Jimmy Quin, and Jimmy Quin is Kelly's uncle, and Pat Quin is married to Jimmy Quin's sister.
<span id="rc3213">[[#rc3213|3213]]</span> Was there a conviction for Hall's assault?— Pat Quin got three years.
<span id="rc3214">[[#rc3214|3214]]</span> Why was Hall removed?— I think at his own request.
3215 Why?— His wife was in a bad state of health—he got married, and his wife got into a very bad state of health, and I think that is why he made the application—I think so, I am not sure.
<span id="rc3216">[[#rc3216|3216]]</span> Who was sent there after Hall by Mr. Barclay?— I am speaking now altogether from memory and without the aid of the books—that is why I wanted to give my evidence at Benalla—I believe a constable called Montgomery.
<span id="rc3217">[[#rc3217|3217]]</span> Had he any experience of these criminal classes?— None whatever, he came from the Portland district.
3218 Was that considered an unwise step by the officers?— I looked upon it as extremely so.
3219 Is a special knowledge of those criminals indispensable to keep them under?— Yes.
3220 And a knowledge of the country?— Yes.
<span id="rc3221">[[#rc3221|3221]]</span> Did Montgomery have a knowledge of the country?— No. I got him removed. It was my duty to inspect the Greta station, and after he was placed in charge of it, on the first occasion of my inspecting it, I noticed his horse was very fat, and I knew his horse, and I was surprised that this horse should get so very fat.
<span id="rc3222">[[#rc3222|3222]]</span> What time was that?— The latter end of 1871. It attracted my attention, and the next time I went to the station I determined I would overhaul the occurrence-book, because I found him there when I went, and then the next time I found him there in the barracks, not on duty, and he appeared as if he had not been mounted, and I know there is such a thing as doing duty by the occurrence-book, and I questioned him. I saw he had entered “Bush patrol” in his book. That means riding in the bush for a certain number of hours, a certain number of miles, without any terminus being stated.
<span id="rc3223">[[#rc3223|3223]]</span> Is it generally undertaken for special duty or for the exercise of the horse?— No; patrolling the district to see what he could see, to get a knowledge of the country.
<span id="rc3224">[[#rc3224|3224]]</span> What knowledge of the country had he?— Absolutely none, for I asked him about [[Kilfera|Mason's station]], and he did not know about it. That is on the Fifteen-mile Creek.
3225 Would not that be the direct road where those lawless men would go?— Yes, and of course he should know every inch of it.
3226 Was [[Greta|Montgomery]] removed?— Yes.
<span id="rc3227">[[#rc3227|3227]]</span> Why?— On my report. I reported him to Superintendent Barclay for this, and he removed him to [[Bright|Bright]] I think.
<span id="rc3228">[[#rc3228|3228]]</span> Who went there then?— I think it was a mounted constable named [[SConst Flood|Flood]] that went there after him.....
=== Previous page / Next page ===
<br />
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'''The [[Royal Commission report day 13 page 1|previous day]] / [[Royal Commission report day 15 page 1|next day]] . . . Royal Commission [[Royal Commission Index|index]]'''
[[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:February 1503]] [[Category:Royal Commission]] [[Category:Commisioner Standish]] [[Category:history]]
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